New York City is the nerve center of the nation; it is a leader in manufacturing, trade, theatre, and book publishing. The city's public school system, the New York City Department of Education, is the largest in the world, and New York is home to some of the most important libraries, universities, and research centers in the world. The city has a 10.2 percent unemployment rate, which is higher than the national average of 9.7 percent. However, this rate has been decreasing since January, when it stood at 10.4 percent.